Education

8:18 am

Tue January 22, 2013

Texas High School Graduation Above National Average

Texas sits roughly in the middle of the pack when it comes to four-year high school graduation rates.

National Center for Education Statistics

A new study shows Texas' four-year high school graduation rate rose to 78.9 percent in 2009-2010, putting the Lone Star State above the national average of 78.2 percent.

A federal study released by the National Center of Education Statistics shows that Texas' four-year graduation rate increased from its previous study, from 73.1 percent in the 2006-2007 school year to 78.9 percent in 2009-2010.

Despite the increasing graduation rate in Texas, the state still sits roughly in the middle of the pack. The list is led by the state of Vermont with a 91.4 percent four-year graduation rate. Nevada is at the bottom with only 57.8 percent.

Across the United States, the study found the percentage of students who graduate on time has reached its highest level in almost 40 years.

The latest study differs from separate data released in November by the U.S. Department of Education. That study showed that Texas' four-year graduation rate was 86 percent for the class of 2011. That put Texas just two percentage points behind the states with the best graduation rates in the study — Vermont and Wisconsin, and Iowa.